In This Issue: May 2017

Some Opioid-Related Deaths May be Missed When People Die from Infectious Diseases

A new government study suggests some opioid-related deaths may not be counted when people die from pneumonia or other infectious diseases that are worsened by drug use. In these cases, the death certificate may only list the infection as the cause of death, according to the researchers from the Centers Disease Control and Prevention ….. READ MORE.

CDC: Long-Acting Opioids, Tramadol Most Likely to be Chronically Used

Patients who take long-acting opioids are more likely to experience chronic opioid use, a report published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report has determined. The findings support previous research which found an association between early opioid prescribing patterns and likelihood of long-term use ….. READ MORE.

Most Teens Who Abuse Opioids First Got Them From a Doctor

Most American teenagers who abuse opioid drugs first received the drugs from a doctor, a new study finds. There was a strong correlation between teens taking drugs for appropriate medical care and later taking drugs for no-medical purposes ….. READ MORE.

Drug Companies Investigated by Senate for Fueling Opioid Crisis

A Senate committee is on task to find out whether pharmaceutical manufacturers are to blame for driving opioid prescribing practices that ultimately led to today’s addiction crisis. Five companies with the top market shares are being investigated. Congressional leaders have requested information about marketing practices and compliance issues ….. READ MORE.

States With Prescription Drug Monitoring Mandates Saw A Reduction In Opioids Prescribed To Medicaid Enrollees

Study found that states whose laws required prescribers to register with the PDMP, access it or both were found to be effective tools in realizing the programs full potential ….. READ MORE.

Cigna Reduces Opioid Prescribing by 12%

Cigna Insurance recently reported that use of prescribed opioids has declined 12% among its member population in the past year. This achieves almost half its goal to reduce opioid use by 25% over three years. Health plans are known to have wide swaths of data to track utilization patterns, and they can play a key role in reducing opioid use and connecting patients to treatment when necessary ….. READ MORE.

The Cherokee Nation sued distributors and retailers of opioid medications, alleging the companies have contributed to “an epidemic of prescription opioid abuse” within the tribe and have not done enough to prevent tribal members from acquiring illegally prescribed opioid painkillers ….. READ MORE.

Drivers Killed in Crashes More Likely to Have Used Drugs Than Alcohol

For the first time, U.S. drivers killed in crashes in 2015 were more likely to have used drugs than alcohol, according to a new study. The study found 43 percent of drivers tested in fatal crashes in 2015 had used a legal or illegal drug, compared with 37 percent who showed alcohol levels above a legal limit ….. READ MORE.

New Dangerous Opioid Mix Called “Gray Death” Blamed for Deaths in Three States

A new combination of opioids, known as “Gray Death,” is being blamed for deaths in Alabama, Georgia and Ohio, the Associated Press reports. The combination includes heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and a synthetic opioid called U-47700 ….. READ MORE.